, 1887-08-26
FOR IRELAND'S CAUSE.
Gladstone's Defense of the Ma
tional League.
The Action of the Government
Strongly Condemned
Liberal Members Promise Full
Support.
Gladstone to the Front.

LONDON aug. 2o.-Notlce was given
by Gladstone in the house of commons
yesterday of a resolution that a humble
address be presented to the queen repre-
senting that the viceroy of Ireland has
proclaimed The National League as a dan
gerous association and that no infJrma-
ton has been furnished parliament to JUS
tity the proclamation by virtue of which
her majesty subjects are to be rendered
liable to be punished as criminals without
Judicial inquiry into the atu of their
acts, and that this house in the absence of
such information prays that said procla-
nation shall not continue in force as to
the association named and described
therein"
Balfour will follow Gladstone tonight
and Sir G. o. Trevelyn will move to ad-
iourn the debate.
Gladstone was greeted with cheers in
the house of commons this evening when
he moved his resolution. He said the
Irish viceroy in declaring that the league
had melted to violence must have acted
on information, but where was that in
formation? The Irish chiefs had a right
to know the grounds on which the gov
eminent had acted. If the facts were
withheld the opposition must forthwith
urge three propositions upon the house OF
the government.
First-That it was almost an outrage on
the dignity of parliament to suppose that
1t was to discharge suchimportant statutory
duty without knowing the grounds.
Second-lt reduced to utter destruction
and to an absurdity the main contention
that the government advanced during the
discussion of the crimes act, that the safe
guard promised had proved a farce.
Thirdly-What could the house think
Of the information that they must thus
know would not bear the light2
Gladstone has always contended that
the government were legislating against
combinations apart from crime, and now
was the time for the government to show
that he and his friends we're wrong. But
the government shrank from the test and
declined the challenge. They had substi-
tuted arbitrary will for regular legal action.
This principle was the most dangerous
and disgracetul in any country, and
especially in Ireland. The law in Ireland
was still On trial. The great misfortune
was that those who administer it, especial
" locally, were in sympathy with the feel
ings Of the people. The proclamation of
the league is a near approach to a decla-
ration Of war on the Irish people.
The people of Ireland generally sympa-
thized with the league because they be-
heved it had been their salvation. No
body did anything for the tenants until
the league was founded. The govern
ment's action absolutely excluded the
house from anything except the absurd
and ~perfunctory operation in connection
with the great duty devolved upon it
under the statute. Their cognizance of
this proclamation was reduced to a mere
farce. There would be no jury, Judge or
resident magistrate, and no parliament to
control Ireland. There would be nothing
but the absolute unmitigated arbitrary act
of the Irish executive, which was neces-
sarily partisan.
He hoped the Irish would continue to
bear the pressure. They would not have
to suffer long. 1t was not certain they
would not obey the law through fear, but
from the strong, vivid, buoyant hope
which even at the last election was not
damaged and which now was brighter.
The Irish believed the government policy
had not the sanction of the British nation.
The government foundation was Slip
ping from under them and their action in
reference to the proclamation of the
leaRue showed their strength was laulng.
Balfour said that Gladstone would have
been wiser had he rested his argument on
the allegation that the house was ignorant
of the grounds for the proclamation,
rather than on a defense of the league.
There was sufficient foundation to justify
the proclamation in the columns of the
local newspapers, without going into the
government confidential reports: Reply
ing to questions from Harcourt, Balfour
refused to submit the documents quoted,
and the speaker said the secretary was
not bound to table confidential documents,
but the case was different with official
papers Harcourt again asked if the
papers were to be tabled, and Balfour
said no. The documents we're both pub
lie and confidential. If the people real
lied the true nature and working of the
league they would support the govern
ment.
Forty Liberal members of parliament
held a meeting to-day and resolved to
support the Irish National League, as
they were satisfied that the organization
was purely a political one. Twenty other
Liberal members wrote letters expressing
sympathy with the purposes of the meet
ing. There were no party leaders pres
emf